Virtual Worlds in Education Hilary Mason Johnson & Wales University

Participatory Media http://xkcd.com http://bvlg.blogspot.com

Virtual Spaces = Web 2.0 + 3D “ Video game” technologies enable the creation of a new type of place .

“ Video game” technologies enable the creation of a new type of place .

Advantages of Virtual Spaces Experience – The closest thing to being there physically. Place – Creates a sense of ‘place’ that is not tied to a physical location, enabling serendipitous encounters.

Experience – The closest thing to being there physically.

Place – Creates a sense of ‘place’ that is not tied to a physical location, enabling serendipitous encounters.

Advantages of Virtual Spaces Experience + Place = Community

Experience + Place = Community

Second Life Second Life provides an open platform for user-created content with a low barrier to entry. Second Life is free to use. Fees only apply to build persistent structures.

Second Life provides an open platform for user-created content with a low barrier to entry.

Second Life is free to use. Fees only apply to build persistent structures.

Second Life and the Web Second Life contains a full-featured programming language that enables data to flow from the web into and out of the environment.

Second Life contains a full-featured programming language that enables data to flow from the web into and out of the environment.

Educational Projects in SL College campuses Museums Info Island Library NOAA Non-profits

College campuses

Museums

Info Island Library

NOAA

Non-profits

Global Outreach Morocco

Community Action Association Explore social and economic development issues locally and internationally Develop critical thinking and team building skills Experience personal growth and cultural diversity Contribute through community service

Explore social and economic development issues locally and internationally

Develop critical thinking and team building skills

Experience personal growth and cultural diversity

Contribute through community service

G.O. Morocco Goals Use academic and intellectual skills and abilities to address social issues Study-abroad experience Student-driven project

Use academic and intellectual skills and abilities to address social issues

Study-abroad experience

Student-driven project

G.O. Morocco Project Virtual Morocco is a “best of” Moroccan tourist experience in a virtual space. The team researched and designed the experience to educate people about Moroccan culture, while hopefully enticing them to think about Morocco as a tourist destination.

Virtual Morocco is a “best of” Moroccan tourist experience in a virtual space.

The team researched and designed the experience to educate people about Moroccan culture, while hopefully enticing them to think about Morocco as a tourist destination.

Prototype Hassan II Mosque

Hassan II Mosque

Presentations Casablanca Technology Incubator Moroccan Ministry of Tourism

Casablanca Technology Incubator

Moroccan Ministry of Tourism

Cultural Immersion Living and working in Morocco Community interaction Personal growth Contextualization

Living and working in Morocco

Community interaction

Personal growth

Contextualization

Business and Community Development Students were given the option to take a credit-bearing course to complete the project.

Students were given the option to take a credit-bearing course to complete the project.

[video] http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2720481925666510600&q=virtual+morocco

GO Morocco

Virtual Morocco Over 4,500 visitors since the official launch Created publication and occupational opportunities for students Has led to internal and external collaboration Platform for new tools Generated new projects

Over 4,500 visitors since the official launch

Created publication and occupational opportunities for students

Has led to internal and external collaboration

Platform for new tools

Generated new projects

Virtual BLAST BLAST is the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope. BLAST flew over Antarctica in December, 2006 and in Second Life in April, 2007.

BLAST is the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope.

BLAST flew over Antarctica

in December, 2006 and in

Second Life in April, 2007.

What we Virtually Learned Leverage the advantages of the virtual space Community is essential Evaluation is difficult Control is a losing battle – give it up!

Leverage the advantages of the virtual space

Community is essential

Evaluation is difficult

Control is a losing battle – give it up!

Questions Can a mixed-reality cultural experience provide the same benefits of a traditional experience? How do people interact in virtual environments? How can information be communicated effectively? Can virtual environments provide a platform for students to prototype business and artistic concepts?

Can a mixed-reality cultural experience provide the same benefits of a traditional experience?

How do people interact in virtual environments?

How can information be communicated effectively?

Can virtual environments provide a platform for students to prototype business and artistic concepts?

Tools and Visualizations InfoFez SLMetrics ( http://www.slmetrics.com ) Stargate Handshow Chair

InfoFez

SLMetrics ( http://www.slmetrics.com )

Stargate

Handshow Chair

Future Plans Virtual Morocco is growing Integrate SL and web services (data and commerce) Virtual Rhode Island! Coming soon Voice and open-source Identity management Integration with web and other spaces

Virtual Morocco is growing

Integrate SL and web services (data and commerce)

Virtual Rhode Island!

Coming soon

Voice and open-source

Identity management

Integration with web and other spaces

Getting Involved SLED mailing list ( http://www.secondlife.com ) SimTeach wiki ( http://www.simteach.com ) Sloodle (Linking Moodle and SL) ICT Library on Info Island

SLED mailing list ( http://www.secondlife.com )

SimTeach wiki ( http://www.simteach.com )

Sloodle (Linking Moodle and SL)

ICT Library on Info Island

Thank you! http://slurl.com/secondlife/casablanca/132/82/26/

Thank you!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/casablanca/132/82/26/